Locating Underground Services

The team at Western Scanning Services includes a group of highly experienced technicians in the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) field. We have been servicing the Perth and state of Western Australia with pride for some time and provide a wide range of services valuable during construction, excavation, testing and maintenance. And while other companies may sell one off scanning services, Western Scanning strive to be a long term partner to their clients.

Western Scanning utilise GSSI equipment for service locating, equipping our technical team with start of the art, all-terrain trolley mounted scanners. For projects that have larger areas that require scanning, multi-antenna wide footprint scanners are available and can be vehicle towed to increase speed and safety.

Figure 1: An all-terrain trolley mounted GSSI scanner

OUR SERVICES

Western Scanning offer Ground Penetrating Radar service location in a safe and timely manner. Our services include:

• Real-time identification of a underground services and other unmarked services and features
• Accurate marking of the services and features both on site and on site plans and maps
• Non-destructive pot holing and vacuum extraction
• Compliance with safety regulations and duty of care requirements
• Rapid construction and excavation insights

The Western Scanning technical team have the technology and expertise to accurately locate services underground and mark those services and utilities both on the surface (in spray paint) and on site plans and maps. The use of a real time location technology like GPR reduces cost on construction sites and building works across the board as information can be provided when it is needed and the information provided is highly accurate.

Another benefit of utilising the Western Scanning services is that all services can be located, as opposed to Underground Line Locating utilising EM which can only locate items and services that conduct electric current such as steel pipes, copper wire and other conductive lines. Services that may be made carried using PVC piping, vitrified clay or reinforced concrete, cannot be located using simply Electro-Magnetic (EM) detection equipment.

Ground Penetrating Radar however, utilises radio waves and because of the effectiveness of this technology, does not require any physical connection to the utility or service that is being located. Using GPR equipment Western Scanning can mark out the location, depth, and provide clear estimations of the size of the pipe, line or service.

Figure 2: A sled mounted GSSI scanner being used for a client in the Pilbara

Should a more durable mark of the presence of the service, pipe or line be required, Western Scanning can provide non-destructive vacuum extraction to pothole the location down to the service and place a clearly labelled PVC pipe.

Figure 3: Services marked using a semi-permanent PVC marker

OUR EXPERTISE

Ground Penetrating Radar is particular effective at detecting underground voids. Where there are holes or cavities in the soil, whether naturally occurring or due to pre-existing construction works or earth movements, this technology can detect them.

Figure 4: The perspective our technical staff see of a client site

Due to the soft sands soils so common around Perth Metropolitan area, Western Scanning are often asked to locate voids and cavities. Utilising GPR, the Western Scanning technical team scan the subsurface and locate natural and artificial cavities underground.

One common construction task to which Western Scanning are often asked to contribute is the safe and complete backfilling of large trenches or excavated holes. Once the backfilling has been completed by those responsible for the construction works, and the area has been compacted from the surface, it is common for Western Scanning clients to engage them to scan the area to ensure there are no remaining pockets of air or voids after compaction.

Another area in which Western Scanning regularly provide assistance is where it is believed a pipe has been broken beneath a road or drive way. Often the only evidence of the break is leaking fluids but Western Scanning can inform their client of the path the pipe takes under the road or drive and the likely location of the break based on voiding created by the leaking fluid washing away sand and soil.

Figure 5: Scanning under concrete to find sources of leakage and voiding

Western Scanning has been hired to scan stretches of roads in order to detect any voids under the road surface after construction, paying particular attention to any locations where the road crosses services.

Despite the existence of Dial Before You Dig and clear site plans, it is not uncommon for there to be unused pre-existing drainage pipes under construction sites that do not appear on any plans. During construction, these can collapse and cause a significant safety issue. This is one reason why it is wise to scan building and constructing sites prior to construction.

Figure 6: Dial Before You Dig - Detailed but often incomplete

Western Scanning promotes a safe workplace and currently has two full time OHS officers. Western Scanning has trained personnel with many years of experience in the construction and mining sectors. Western Scanning buys only state of the art equipment so that it clients can have confidence in the technology in use.

Hire us to locate the underground assets on your next project. Western Scanning are accredited locaters with or for: